Arkansas State

December 11, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Arkansas State junior kicker Josh Arauco sat around some of college football's best yesterday, thinking about when he first heard he was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award."I was telling my friends I really don't feel I'm of the caliber to be in the same room with these people,'' said Arauco, a South Grand Prairie graduate.But Arauco is one of three - along with Florida State's Graham Gano and Utah's Louie Sakoda - up for the Groza, which honors college football's top kicker.The award will be presented tonight on the ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be televised from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on ESPN. This season, Arauco has made 17-of-20 field goals, including all four in Arkansas State's 18-14 season opening victory at Texas A&M. He was also 37-of-38 on extra points.Arauco, who made the trip with his parents, has seen film of Sakoda, and had the chance to talk to him and Gano, both of whom he said are very nice. Another player, though, caught his attention."It's pretty crazy to be in the room with Graham Harrell,'' Arauco said during Wednesday's media interviews. "I watch him on TV all the time."